Courageous Life

We named our trip Nairobi Hope Now. We felt like we could bring hope to those in need. What we learned is quite different. One team member, stated on our final night "it's like we came to save but they in turn saved us." This profound truth broke my heart further. Yes, we walked in 4-5 slums, visited homes, witnessed poverty that you think you are prepared for from pictures you have seen but in reality there is no way you can feel it unless you are there. Sitting in the homes of the women who sew with the Jacaranda Creations Ministry of Brenda and Garry Kean, (www.gbkean.com) you see the hope of Jesus in their smiles and you hear the hope in their hearts. They trust God to provide. The pray for provision and believe. They retell stories of God's faithfulness in their lives while we sit in their home of tin, cardboard and mud. They share their gratitude for school for their children because on those days a meal is provided on weekends they only have tea to gi...

Sweet Beatrice. I love this girl. I met her two years ago and she was very sick. She looks a lot better, but unfortunately has only gained 3 lbs in 2 years. She is 6 years old and weights 25 lbs. Her cough continues despite Brenda taking her to the clinic many times. My heart sank when I saw her again. But, Brenda was able to arrange a visit with a new doctor this time. I explained to him what has been happening the past 2 years with Beatrice and I do believe he was an angel in disguise. He treated her without payment and walked us to the hospital for x-rays and communicated with the chest clinic on Beatrice behalf. Shockingly, I went in with her for the chest x-ray and the "technician" took the picture with the previous patient, (another young girl) still redressing. No metal shield. I pulled Virginia and I behind a brick wall. Crazy! This is their government healthcare. Anyway, the doctor brought the x-ray to me and allowed me behind the counter to view the picture ...

I haven't been able to write much with limited internet time, but I am not sure I have words to write adequately either. This trip has been wonderful, emotional, inspiring, and tiring. It's great to be able to see the team members experience life in the slums of Kenya, meet the people and share the love of Christ with them. However, often we have experienced the love of Christ from them. It is humbling. Yesterday, we sat in slum homes listening to the testimony of single, HIV positive Moms. I really can't concentrate right now to truly express all the experiences here. Just want to say a huge thank you to all our supporters, to Crosspoint Community Church and our families back home! This team loves you! Today we are having a Jacaranda Conference for all the Jacaranda Women from the many different branches. Plan to share testimonies with them, share the bible, teach some bow making, jump rope with them, teach some health issues, laugh with them and pray with t...

Today was our 3rd Day in Nairobi. It's difficult to believe that we have only been here for 3 days! So much has happened. The team is awesome. It's exciting to see their smiles as they interact with the people/children and exciting to witness God using each of their gifts and talents! Before I say more though I want to THANK ALL OF YOU for your prayers. We arrived safe and sound and other than a few upset stomachs and fatigue from 28 hours of travel the team was awesome. There is so much to share but the internet has not been very cooperative, so while I have this "gift" of internet time I really want to share about today! Kiambu hospital is a public hospital we visited today. It was just a few of us because we were concerned about not being allowed in. We walked through the pediatric ward into rooms with babies 3-4 to a bed. I really am speechless. These babies have pneumonia, severe malnutrition, yellow fever, meningitis, HIV. Their Mom's are cling...

So we are down to less than 24 hours... ...packing, repacking, packing, repacking, bank errands, last minute items, team is checking in online, receiving texts and calls,working my last day(full of meetings and turning over my workload) woo hoo, it is exciting and overwhelming. Here is our tenative Schedule: Leave Friday June 3rd 11:50am Delta Airlines, Nashville to Atlanta to Amsterdam. Change to KLM after 6 hour lay over and arrive in Nairobi Saturday June 4th 8pm ! Sunday: New Song Nairobi Church Service: John and Rhonda speaking; Beth leading worship. Sunday afternoon computer lab with Dave Lewis Monday: Marurui Slum and Jacaranda Head Office Tuesday: Alberts school and Tassia Slum Wednesday: Kaimbu Hospital Thursday: Massai Land Friday: Massai Market/ Sight Seeing/ Justin and Elijah Davis arrive Saturday: Marurui Outreach(sports and fun)Health Clinic Sunday: New Song Nairobi Justin speaking/Beth and Joby leading worship/ Afternoon Computer lab with Dave L...

It’s been an incredible journey the past 10 months. Last August no one knew how they would afford this trip, how they would leave family behind, how they would get off work. I personally didn’t know how to lead a team like this! I didn’t feel equipped, not popular enough, not young enough, etc, etc…. But God has proved to be in this journey. My faith with each mission trip I have taken has grown to new levels and my heart is changed. I now hope the changes never stop. The best part of this is trusting HIM. I love the part in the book, Sun Setting Prayer when he talks about stepping into the water, applying wisdom and then swimming like you never have before. And never, never turning back, because ultimately, HE is the wave jumper, not me. The great thing too for me is that my focus is so much more on what God has given me in life(my family) and what he has given me to do, (my service) and no longer on my outward appearance, my status economically or socially. It’s is ...

Yep, 2 Weeks until the "Africa Team" / "Nairobi Hope Now" team leaves for Nairobi, Kenya. Thank you to so many of you that have contributed through prayers, encouraging words, donations, and financial sacrifice! YOU are part of this team. I hope and pray you feel it. Once again, we will be working alongside Garry and Brenda Kean, their church, their sewing ministry(Jacaranda Creations) and their outreach in the slums. Our to do list is very long and possibly unrealistic. Garry and Brenda are in the process are coordinating the final daily schedule but here is the general activities: Speaking and leading worship at New Song Nairobi Speaking/Ministering to the Jacaranda Sewing ladies in their different communities Neighborhood door-to-door visitation Loving on and playing with the some kids including sports camp Computer training Visiting in homes located in the slums Volunteering with a mobile medical clinic. Visiting childrens ward in a local char...